2 Kings 5 : 1-15
Luke 4 : 24-30
When it comes to choosing a name for baptism, or for a religious purpose, the primary source to look into would be the Bible.
There we will come across the names of biblical heroes or persons of faith.
Yet there are biblical characters whose names are not mentioned.
In today's 1st reading, the little Israelite girl who was captured and became a slave was a nameless person.
But how was it that Naaman believed in her?
Naaman and his wife must have seen or sensed something in that little Israelite slave girl that prompted them to believe in her words.
They probably saw that even though freedom was taken away from her, she still kept her faith and trusted in God.
It was her little actions of faith that impressed Naaman and his wife.
Most of us are not big shots or big names in society or in church.
Yet like the little nameless Israelite slave girl, our actions of faith count, not only before God but also before others.
In fact, our actions of faith speak louder that our words.
It is through our simple and loving actions of faith that will lead others to believe in God.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Saturday, March 6, 2010
2nd Week of Lent, Saturday, 06-03-10
Micah 7:14-15, 18-20 / Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 (2020)
Based on anecdotal evidence, we can say that there is a black sheep in every family.
Usually that is referred to one of the children. That particular child is always out of step with the rest and seems to be marching to a different tune.
That 'black sheep' is the bane and the burden of parents.
Some parents will resort to renouncement of the relationship with that child, others will resort to punishment which may actually be just a way of venting out their frustrations on the child.
In today's gospel parable we hear of yet another way of dealing with the 'black sheep'.
The father gave in to his younger son's request, but yet further on in the parable, we hear of the father waiting and looking out for him to return.
What made the son came to his senses was that he recalled how kindly his father treated his servants. That was enough for him to get moving.
No matter how far a person has gone over to the dark and destructive side, the memories of love and kindness and goodness can never be erased from him.
It is these memories that will make a person come to his senses and bring him back to the light.
So when we come across the odd one, the black sheep, the sinner, let us be the reflection of God's love to that person.
The 1st reading describes God taking fault away, pardoning crime, not cherishing anger for ever but delighting in showing mercy.
Let us be that image of God for others to help them come to their senses and return to God.
Based on anecdotal evidence, we can say that there is a black sheep in every family.
Usually that is referred to one of the children. That particular child is always out of step with the rest and seems to be marching to a different tune.
That 'black sheep' is the bane and the burden of parents.
Some parents will resort to renouncement of the relationship with that child, others will resort to punishment which may actually be just a way of venting out their frustrations on the child.
In today's gospel parable we hear of yet another way of dealing with the 'black sheep'.
The father gave in to his younger son's request, but yet further on in the parable, we hear of the father waiting and looking out for him to return.
What made the son came to his senses was that he recalled how kindly his father treated his servants. That was enough for him to get moving.
No matter how far a person has gone over to the dark and destructive side, the memories of love and kindness and goodness can never be erased from him.
It is these memories that will make a person come to his senses and bring him back to the light.
So when we come across the odd one, the black sheep, the sinner, let us be the reflection of God's love to that person.
The 1st reading describes God taking fault away, pardoning crime, not cherishing anger for ever but delighting in showing mercy.
Let us be that image of God for others to help them come to their senses and return to God.
Friday, March 5, 2010
2nd Week of Lent, Friday, 05-03-10
Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13, 17-28 / Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46 (2020)
Family feuds are not just something that we see only in movies and soap operas.
It happens in real life. We read about it in the papers, we hear about it from friends, it may have even happened to us.
One of the main causes of these family feuds is over money and property.
Over money and property, children have brought parents to court and vice versa. Over money and property, sibling rivalry can become so ugly that blood relationships can become like dirty water.
It had happened from the earliest times in the story of Cain and Abel.
It happened between Joseph and his brothers as we heard in the 1st reading.
That coat with long sleeves was a symbol of favour and blessing.
Over that coat, Joseph's brothers came up with evil thoughts like murder, and then mugging and then slavery.
It was also over money and property that the tenants in the parable of today's gospel resorted to violence and murder.
It can be frightening to know, and even to realize, that money and material possession can have such a destructive grip over us to the extent that we can even lose our sense of integrity and morality.
Hence the Lenten practice of alms-giving has that purpose of helping us break free from this grip of being money-minded and being possessed by materialism.
The Charities Week envelope is a means of helping us in this Lenten spiritual exercise.
Let us see if we can give cheerfully. After all whatever we have is given to us from above, and we are only stewards, not owners.
Family feuds are not just something that we see only in movies and soap operas.
It happens in real life. We read about it in the papers, we hear about it from friends, it may have even happened to us.
One of the main causes of these family feuds is over money and property.
Over money and property, children have brought parents to court and vice versa. Over money and property, sibling rivalry can become so ugly that blood relationships can become like dirty water.
It had happened from the earliest times in the story of Cain and Abel.
It happened between Joseph and his brothers as we heard in the 1st reading.
That coat with long sleeves was a symbol of favour and blessing.
Over that coat, Joseph's brothers came up with evil thoughts like murder, and then mugging and then slavery.
It was also over money and property that the tenants in the parable of today's gospel resorted to violence and murder.
It can be frightening to know, and even to realize, that money and material possession can have such a destructive grip over us to the extent that we can even lose our sense of integrity and morality.
Hence the Lenten practice of alms-giving has that purpose of helping us break free from this grip of being money-minded and being possessed by materialism.
The Charities Week envelope is a means of helping us in this Lenten spiritual exercise.
Let us see if we can give cheerfully. After all whatever we have is given to us from above, and we are only stewards, not owners.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
2nd Week of Lent, Thursday, 04-03-10
Jeremiah 17:5-10 / Luke 16:19-31 (2020)
Back in 1939, at the beginning of World War II, Nazi Germany signed a pact with Russia.
It was a pact of non-aggression towards each other, and in it was also a secret agreement to invade Poland and to divide the spoils between each other.
It was a very wicked and devious pact and furthermore, it was one that was aggressive towards a third party.
Yet two years later, the pact was broken when Germany invaded Russia.
Indeed the words of the prophet Jeremiah in the 1st reading rang true : A curse on the man who puts his trust in man, who relies on the things of the flesh, whose heart turns from the Lord.
Still the human heart continues to be selfish and devious and perverse.
We must realise that when our hearts are turned from the Lord and from the neighbour in need, we only bring eventual destruction to ourselves.
But when we put our trust in the Lord and look into the welfare of our neighbour who is in need, then we will have faith in the Lord who will give each man what his conduct and actions deserve.
Back in 1939, at the beginning of World War II, Nazi Germany signed a pact with Russia.
It was a pact of non-aggression towards each other, and in it was also a secret agreement to invade Poland and to divide the spoils between each other.
It was a very wicked and devious pact and furthermore, it was one that was aggressive towards a third party.
Yet two years later, the pact was broken when Germany invaded Russia.
Indeed the words of the prophet Jeremiah in the 1st reading rang true : A curse on the man who puts his trust in man, who relies on the things of the flesh, whose heart turns from the Lord.
Still the human heart continues to be selfish and devious and perverse.
We must realise that when our hearts are turned from the Lord and from the neighbour in need, we only bring eventual destruction to ourselves.
But when we put our trust in the Lord and look into the welfare of our neighbour who is in need, then we will have faith in the Lord who will give each man what his conduct and actions deserve.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
2nd Week of Lent, Wednesday, 03-03-10
Jeremiah 18:18-20 / Matthew 20:17-28 (2020)
In our very urbanized country, things have changed so much and so fast that we can even get nostalgic over things like a charcoal stove.
We certainly can remember waiting for the kettle of water to boil over the charcoal stove, and how we can squat there or do other things while waiting.
But with everything changing so fast and so much, it seems that life should be more convenient and we should have more time.
Yet, the irony is that with life getting more convenient, we also begin to avoid discomfort and we don't see any meaning in it.
On a deeper level, we also want to avoid suffering because suffering is negative and meaningless.
Even in the 1st reading, the prophet Jeremiah was asking the Lord to deliver him from his adversaries and from suffering.
In the gospel, James and John also wanted the glory, but Jesus asked them if they could take the suffering as well.
The same question is also asked of us : Can you drink of the cup that I am going to drink?
Just as water has to be boiled before it can be fit for drinking, we too will have to go through the sharpening fires of suffering before we can find its meaning.
There is meaning in suffering. It is called redemptive suffering. It is the kind of suffering that Jesus showed us when He was nailed to the cross.
May we too offer up our suffering in love like Jesus did, for our redemption as well as the redemption of the world.
In our very urbanized country, things have changed so much and so fast that we can even get nostalgic over things like a charcoal stove.
We certainly can remember waiting for the kettle of water to boil over the charcoal stove, and how we can squat there or do other things while waiting.
But with everything changing so fast and so much, it seems that life should be more convenient and we should have more time.
Yet, the irony is that with life getting more convenient, we also begin to avoid discomfort and we don't see any meaning in it.
On a deeper level, we also want to avoid suffering because suffering is negative and meaningless.
Even in the 1st reading, the prophet Jeremiah was asking the Lord to deliver him from his adversaries and from suffering.
In the gospel, James and John also wanted the glory, but Jesus asked them if they could take the suffering as well.
The same question is also asked of us : Can you drink of the cup that I am going to drink?
Just as water has to be boiled before it can be fit for drinking, we too will have to go through the sharpening fires of suffering before we can find its meaning.
There is meaning in suffering. It is called redemptive suffering. It is the kind of suffering that Jesus showed us when He was nailed to the cross.
May we too offer up our suffering in love like Jesus did, for our redemption as well as the redemption of the world.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
2nd Week of Lent, Tuesday, 02-03-10
Isaiah 1:10, 16-20 / Matthew 23:1-12 (2020)
The feeling of guilt can weigh heavily on a person and can even slowly squeeze the life out of the person.
More so when this feeling of guilt is often aggravated by other people who keep harping on the guilt.
It is strange and yet not so strange that people tend to glee and gloat over the guilt and the wrong-doings of others.
Which might make us recall this amusing and yet truthful phrase : When I do the right thing, no one remembers. But when I do the wrong thing, no one forgets.
It stems from the tendency to make oneself look big by making others look small.
Yet in life, we have to admit that we make mistakes at one point or another.
And when we do something wrong, we don't need reminders. Reminders only make the guilt heavier
What we need is compassion and forgiveness.
In the 1st reading, God gives us a reminder. It is a reminder not of our sins, but of His compassion and forgiveness when He said : Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow ; thought they are red as crimson, they shall be white as wool.
Jesus came to untie our burden of guilt and shame with His compassion and forgiveness.
With the power of His love, Jesus frees us. Let us in turn also untie and free others of their guilt and shame.
The feeling of guilt can weigh heavily on a person and can even slowly squeeze the life out of the person.
More so when this feeling of guilt is often aggravated by other people who keep harping on the guilt.
It is strange and yet not so strange that people tend to glee and gloat over the guilt and the wrong-doings of others.
Which might make us recall this amusing and yet truthful phrase : When I do the right thing, no one remembers. But when I do the wrong thing, no one forgets.
It stems from the tendency to make oneself look big by making others look small.
Yet in life, we have to admit that we make mistakes at one point or another.
And when we do something wrong, we don't need reminders. Reminders only make the guilt heavier
What we need is compassion and forgiveness.
In the 1st reading, God gives us a reminder. It is a reminder not of our sins, but of His compassion and forgiveness when He said : Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow ; thought they are red as crimson, they shall be white as wool.
Jesus came to untie our burden of guilt and shame with His compassion and forgiveness.
With the power of His love, Jesus frees us. Let us in turn also untie and free others of their guilt and shame.
Monday, March 1, 2010
2nd Week of Lent, Monday, 01-03-10
Daniel 9:4-10 / Luke 6:36-38 (2020)
Famous persons like Winston Churchill, Thomas Edison and Charles Darwin had something in common in their childhood years.
They were told that they would never make it anywhere in life.
They were told that they belonged to the scrap-bin, that they were slow-learners, that they were a liability in society.
Yet, they made it somewhere in life, and what's more, they became someone in life.
It only goes to show that premature judgment is a terrible thing to do as it can destroy a person's self-worth.
We only know of those who survived and proved others wrong.
But how about those who were trampled down by judgment and criticism and unforgiveness?
All these are terrible and destructive sins.
When we judge others, highlight their faults and would not open the door to forgiveness, it shows one thing.
It shows that we are unaware of our own faults and our own sinfulness.
We must continue to reflect on what the prophet Daniel said in the 1st reading : Lord, we have sinned, we have done wrong, we have not listened.
Let us ask the Lord to help us to be aware and to realize our sinfulness.
Only then can we be open to the compassion of God, a compassion that is given to us in full measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over.
Famous persons like Winston Churchill, Thomas Edison and Charles Darwin had something in common in their childhood years.
They were told that they would never make it anywhere in life.
They were told that they belonged to the scrap-bin, that they were slow-learners, that they were a liability in society.
Yet, they made it somewhere in life, and what's more, they became someone in life.
It only goes to show that premature judgment is a terrible thing to do as it can destroy a person's self-worth.
We only know of those who survived and proved others wrong.
But how about those who were trampled down by judgment and criticism and unforgiveness?
All these are terrible and destructive sins.
When we judge others, highlight their faults and would not open the door to forgiveness, it shows one thing.
It shows that we are unaware of our own faults and our own sinfulness.
We must continue to reflect on what the prophet Daniel said in the 1st reading : Lord, we have sinned, we have done wrong, we have not listened.
Let us ask the Lord to help us to be aware and to realize our sinfulness.
Only then can we be open to the compassion of God, a compassion that is given to us in full measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over.
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